NEWS- A team from the Ministry of Lands under the USMID initiative visited Kabale municipality to oversee the finalization of projects ahead of the program’s closure on December 31, 2023. Ms. Sheila Naturinda, the USMID communications specialist, disclosed this information yesterday.
According to Naturinda, the USMID program is set to conclude at the end of the year. Failure to complete ongoing projects poses various challenges post-closure, including the possibility of reallocating funds to contractors with credible bank guarantees for project completion. If such measures are not taken, there is a risk of financial loss for the municipality and potential delays in project completion.
Naturinda revealed that the government has sought an extension from the World Bank due to several pending projects. These include the tarmacking of the 0.76 kilometers Bwankosa road, connecting Nyerere Avenue and Kabale shopping center (Ki-college), the 0.34 kilometers Bushekwire road linking Kabale shopping center to Kabale main road in Central division, and a 2.49 kilometers road connecting the Kabale Diocesan Headquarters to Katuna-Kabale-Mbarara Highway. The extension also involves the expansion of street lights within Kabale municipality.
She explained that the government is awaiting feedback from the World Bank regarding the extension request.
Naturinda further stated that the team’s visit to Kabale was prompted by concerns over the slow progress of Multiplex Company Limited, the contracted construction company. However, there has been an improvement, with the contractor currently at 53% completion of the road. The goal is to ensure that the USMID program concludes with the contractor achieving at least 70% completion.
In 2021, Multiplex Construction Company Limited secured a contract worth Shillings 21.7 billion to tarmac the aforementioned roads. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had pledged the construction of Rushoroza road during his 2010 presidential campaign. Bwankosa and Bushekwire roads, both in a deteriorating state, have been a longstanding concern, with deep potholes collecting stagnant water during rainy seasons.
In another development, a section of Park communities with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Bukimbiri County, Kisoro District have said the newly elected leadership of Nkuringo Conservation Development Foundation (NCDF) is likely to seek personal interests over serving the larger communities of Nkuringo and Rubuguri Town Councils.
NCDF, formerly Nkuringo Community Conservation Development Foundation was founded in 2004 with the sole objective of supporting the communities of Nkuringo and Rubuguri town councils to benefit from the booming Mountain Gorilla tourism in the southern sector of Bwindi impenetrable National Park.
NCDF has since accumulated a number of financially profitable projects including Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, schools and other ventures that provide livestock to communities and scholarships to selected community members.
A new Chairperson by the name of Tumuhairwe B John was on Thursday last week elected by 21 people at a low-key election held at Tourist Hotel in Kisoro Municipality.
Beinomugisha Zoveriyo, a resident of Nteko cell in Nkuringo town council says that locals have now lost trust in the organization and fear that some projects that benefited the community will soon fade away because the public did not participate in the electoral process.
Twesiime Giridasi, a Resident of Kikobero says the signs that the organization has been hijacked have become clear for all people to see.
Giridasi noted that it is unfortunate that communities were only permitted by Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to elect councilors.
NCDF Chairperson, Tumuhairwe John assured the community members that the organization will remain committed to serve the interests of the people and those peddling lies about the new leadership are only seeking to destroy and not develop Nkuringo and Rubuguri Town Councils.
Nkuringo Town council Mayor, Atanazius Kajibwami asked NCDF leadership to carefully plan for Nkuringo and Rubuguri Town Councils because it is a strong voice to advocate for improved roads and transport network which will attract development to Bukimbiri County.
